Can you do a pull up/chin up?

Tonight we went to the local park. When we arrived, DH promptly hung off a rail and did ten pull ups in a row. He does them regularly and it's part of his fitness routine. Then I tried to do one...

Yes, one.

I couldn't.

I feel so crap that I couldn't even pull myself up once and I'm usually good at lifting heavy things, being of sturdy peasant stock, and all. How bad that I can't even lift myself!

I've heard from personal trainers that women find it harder to do pull ups because their muscle strength is in their core whereas men generally are shoulders and arms. We're also, again generally, carry our weight on the lower halves of our bodies, meaning we have to pull the weight up further. Even though I know this, I still feel like a glob.

At 8 months pregnant, definitely not.I have been able to do them in the past though. Maybe one or two! Perhaps not in recent years, however.I once had a housemate who would do 20 every morning on his door frame. My boyfriend came over one day and couldn't even do one and was extremely embarrassed. I think it's one of those strengths that you can build up without too much trouble if you practice every day/week.

yeah I can, but my training is all about body weight, I do a combo of chins, dips and pushups as my upperbody weight training Tell you something on the odd time I actually go the gym I love seeing the looks of blokes who struggle to do chins seeing a chick rep them out it is very funny

At 8 months pregnant, not a chance. I can hardly be bothered to roll over in bed.

When I was exercising a lot, had low body fat, and was doing weights - I could do about 10. I wasn't doing chin ups as part of my routine though. I am also a relatively athletic build (flat chested and narrow hipped), which probably made it easier. My DH is tall and has good upper body strength and can do them easily, he had a male friend who was much shorter, shaped like an inverted triangle (very broad upper body, short & skinny legs) who could do them one handed with no fitness regime.

Not anymore, but I used to be able to, took a good chunk of exercising and upper body strength to be able to. It's the number one fitness thing I miss being able to do and is one of my main goals to reach again after I give birth.

Don't feel to bad about not being able to, it annoys the crap out of me watching my other half whose only exercise is at work and is a bit overweight out do his friends who are gym junkies when I can't do it, though I'm sure it annoys his mates even more.

When we take the kids to the playpark DH ad I will do chin ups on the monkey bars. I can pull my head up between the bars about three times before struggling. DH doesnt do much more. Haven't tested it for a while though and I'm now doing a lot more body weight work at the gym.

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